Cheyenne Suarez

‘Isang Himala’ star Bituin Escalante announces major concert

Article (news)

Josh Mercado

<p>Behind all of Bituin Escalante’s accomplishments in 2024 — including the musicals &quot;Pingkian&quot; and &quot;Isang HImala,&quot; a New Year&#x27;s Eve show with Martin Nievera and Lea Salonga, and other significant projects — were heartbreaks, including the deaths of those she cared about.</p><p>But, as the phrase goes, the show must go on, so she turned up and survived. Escalante looks ahead to 2025 with optimism and gratitude, having had a career lasting more than 20 years.</p><p>“I survived it. We lost so many people,” she told ABS-CBN News.</p><p>Expressing gratitude for opportunities she received in 2024, she added, “I went to the States with my children for the first time. That was a great bonding moment. Before that, I did ‘Pingkian.’ It’s consistently among the top 10 musicals. I’m proud of that work. My yearender, equally billed for New Year’s Eve with Martin Nievera and Lea Salonga, I’m proud of that. And, of course, ‘Himala’ is the highlight.”</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:633px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1736305334497image0 (6).jpeg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="‘Isang Himala’ star Bituin Escalante announces major concert " style="width:633px"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left"><em>Photo: Handout</em></span></span></span></div><p>To celebrate her 25th anniversary in show business, the powerhouse singer is planning a major concert for May 10 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.</p><p>“The concert celebrates OPM in theater and in film, and I feel like I’m the right storyteller for that because I have the musical theater life and on film. Most of the movies I’ve worked on, they were all musical roles for me. I feel like I can tell a story. I have the right to put this into a whole concept for my 25th anniversary,” she said.</p><p>“It’s really a celebration of theater and film. There’s young blood joining. Ang musical director ay si Krina Cayabyab (Ryan Cayabyab’s daughter),” she added.</p><p>When asked if she still feels anxious when she goes on stage, the singer-actress revealed to ABS-CBN News, ‘Yung kaba ko, hindi [sa produkto] kasi usually I write my script. Akin ito eh. Sa pagbenta ng produkto, siyempre you want an audience, ‘yun lang ang kaba ko. That’s why we’re taking a risk, and I think it’s worth the risk. Will it sell? I don’t care. I just have to tell that story.”</p><p>“Ang hirap ng preparasyon. It started last year. It’s been a hard effort,” she added.</p><p>Is there anything she wants to prove further in her career? “I’m working and I love the work that I’m doing. Every time I compare myself to the person last year, there’s exponential growth. I still love what I’m doing. I can support my family. We’re in a good place. That should be enough. Do we need to prove ourselves pa? I think, this is enough. Sapat siya,” she said.</p><div><strong>Bituin on Regine Velasquez, Vice Ganda </strong></div><p>Escalante is a big fan of Regine Velasquez and disagrees with her stance that it&#x27;s no longer her time.</p><p>She told ABS-CBN News, “I think she’s being realistic. But as her audience, it will always be her time. She’s about to prove herself wrong with her Valentine concert. Parang kakainin niya ang sarili niyang salita. She has always been a good storyteller. Walang sayang na kanta kay Regine. I’m such a fan. Tatanda na ‘yan, mamamaos na ‘yan, pero magaling pa rin siyang magkuwento.”</p><p>In addition to her major concert on May 10 and a new musical, Escalante serves as a judge on Tawag ng Tanghalan on &quot;It&#x27;s Showtime.&quot; She stated that she will return after becoming busy for MMFF 2024.</p><p>The TNT judge compliments &quot;Showtime&quot; host Vice Ganda for his generosity and commitment to his craft. Their last interaction before returning to the show occurred at the MMFF Gabi ng Parangal.</p><p>“Ang ganda ng ‘Gabi ng Parangal.’ ‘Yung energy ng room. Nagkita kami ni Vice Ganda. Inakap ko siya kasi ang galing-galing ng speech niya. It was so honest. He’s raising the banner. It’s so sad that the frontrunners are being criticized. Without a Vice, there would be no MMFF. If there were no films that made that much money, there would be no film festival,” she expressed.</p><p>To conclude the conversation, Escalante offered this advice to aspiring artists: “Respect the work. You make the work because you love the work and you love everyone involved in the work.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2024/12/6/bituin-escalante-on-finding-the-right-voice-in-isang-himala-1244" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bituin Escalante on finding the right voice in ‘Isang Himala’</a></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEOS:</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7ldFRESF8b0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qC0w6S62jQg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>To celebrate her 25th anniversary in show business, the powerhouse singer is planning a major concert for May 10 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.</p>

To celebrate her 25th anniversary in show business, the powerhouse singer is planning a major concert for May 10 at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater in Makati City.